Marine signaling apparatus.



Patented Dec. 23,. |902.

W. B. BARKEB.

MARINE SIGNALING APPARATUS.

(Application filed June B, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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Nol 716,6L7. Patnted Dec. 23, |902.

W. B. BABKER.

MARINE SIGNALING APPARATUS.

(Application filed June 3, 1902.)

(No Modal.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNirnD STAT-ns PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM B. BARKER, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

MARINE SIGNALlNG APPARATUS.

RSEGIFJZCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,617, datedDecember 23, 1902.

Application iiled June 3,1962. Serial No. 110.046. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BENJAMIN BARKER, a subject of the King ofEngland, and a resident of Valton, Liverpool, in the county ofLancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMarine Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has special reference to ma-l rine signaling apparatusfor communicating between one ship and another by sounds in fogs or atother times, with the object of preventing collisions at sea, the codeof signals used being of the kind wherein a combination of short andlong blasts or sounds from a whistle or other marine sounding device isemployed.

The present invention consists of certain improvements and apparatus, ashereinafter described, by which by adjusting the handoperated part tothe course a ship is sailing in or intends to sail in a cam device isoperated or set in such a position that when the sounding operationtakes place the required signal, comprised of long and short blasts orsounds, according to the course being steered or about to be steered,will automatically be given.

For convenience the invention will be further described with the aid ofthe accompanying drawings, in which- AFigure l is a verticallongitudinal section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan viewed from thetop, and Fig. 3 shows in plan view the cam device above referred to.

Referring to the drawings, the cam device is designated a and is adaptedto be set by the hand-actuated wheel b by turning it axially, and thiscam device operates on the end of the horizontal arm of the bell-cranklever c, supported on the pillar d of the apparatus, which is connectedwith the ships steam-whistle or the sounding device. The cam device (Lhas a plurality of vertically-dis posed rows of projections, as shown,on its periphery, each row corresponding with one of the signals of thecode, of which there are eight and which are represented on the eighthandles of the wheel b. These handles, with the code-signals on them,correspond with the four cardinal and the four principal points of thecompass.

To give a signal, when the cam device a, has been set to the rightsignal by the handwheel b it is raised up, this being effected in theconstruction shown by pressing down the pedal e by the foot, which pullson the rope f, connected at the point g to the column d and passing overpulleys 7L in the pulley-carrier t', which carries the cam d upon itsupwardly-projecting pivotj. When, therefore, the cam at is thus raised,the lever c will be operated by the successive projections in a verticalrow in the cam corresponding with the signal to be given and willoperate the sounding device a certainnumber of times, giving longer andshorter blasts, accordingly as the projections on the cam device arelong and short. The lever c will be pulled down as it is released fromthe successive projections, so as to enter the spaces between theseprojections. To render the motion upward of the cam device csubstantially uniform, a liquid escapernent is employed in connectionwith it, so that a regulated escape of liquid has to be passed out bythe foot on the pedal ein its downward action. This is effected by mal;-ing the cam device et hollow and in the form of a cylinder and byproviding a hollow piston 7o in it, over which the cam-cylinder slideswhen moved upward and downward, and the speed-regulating means isprovided by having a small hole in the piston end or the valve Z in thehead, which opens downward, so as to allow a free flow of [luid from thehollow piston k down past the valve into the cam-cylinder ct when thefoot is removed from the pedal e in the return stroke of the cam, whichis effected by the weight of the parts, while in the upstroke the fluidwill have to be pressed through the hole of predetermined capacity, thevalve Z being closed on its seat by the liquid-pressure upward. Thishollow piston acts as a reservoir to the oil orother liquid used on thecontrolling fluid of the apparatus.

The carrier or bracket t' is supported from below by a rod m., which isguided by and slides in a tube n, fixed to the column Land the upper endof the cylinder within the cam a has guide-rods o fixed on it, whichslide through lugs p on the hollow piston-trunk 7c, by means of whichthe cam is turned when the hand-wheel b and piston 7c are turned. Theupper end of the piston 7c has a tubular stem q, which passes up throughthe headplate u of the column d and is guided therein,

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and it is connected to the wheel Z9 by a headed pin a", having arectangular shank which fits in a rectangular hole in the upper end ofthe stem q. This pin is fixed in and revolves with the wheel b. Theweight oi' the piston 7c is taken by rollers s, fixed onto the ends of apin t, passed through stem q, and they run on the ripper face of the endplate u of the column d. The upper edge of the column d has angularserrations c, and the wheel h has corresponding angular serrationsworking in connection with the serrations fu. These serrations orangular parts are employed to hold the wheel b in the required positionafter each actuation.

Inclosing each set of signal-symbols on each ot the handles w of thewheel b there is a line representing in diagram the outline plan view ofa ship. In using the apparatus that signal will be sounded by a shipwhich for the time being is inclosed by the diagram-ship in the handlew, pointing to her bows, and this signal of course must agree andcorrespond with the course being sailed or about to be sailed by theship. However, when a signal is heard from another ship the diagram-shipof the handle w bearing the symbol of that signal so heard will bepointing in an opposite direction to that being sailed by the ship whichsent the signal. However, in order that the user of the apparatus mayhave it graphically illustrated to him as to what course the shipsending the signal is sailing a second set of handles with signals andsigns or symbols on it, are provided below the handles w. These signalsare directlyopposite to those on the handles directly above them, andconsequently the symbol-ship containing within it the code-signal heardfrom another ship will be directed in the exact course being sailed, asthe symbols on the opposite handles of the wheel b are exactly oppositein their order of arrangement. Thus when the operator hears a signalfrom another ship when he finds that signal-symbol on the lower handles.r that will show him at once by the direction of the ships diagramsurrounding it the exact course being sailed or about to be sailed bythat ship. These extra handles fr are attached to and carried by theupper wheel b by the connecting-brackets y.

The relative arrangement ot' the handles w of the wheel b,with thecompass-points marked thereon, form no part of the presentinvention.

Having now described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a marine sound-signaling apparatus, a rotatable andvertically-movable cam device with a series of projections thereon,corresponding with the several code-symbols,ar ranged in vertical rowsaround the periphery thereof, and having a hollow cylinder internally; apiston fitting in said cam-cylinder and having a reservoir connectedwith same, and a regulated aperture therein for regulating the rate ofmovement thereof; and a rotatable hand-actuated means at the upper endof the apparatus connected with the cam; substantially as set forth.

2. In a marine sound-signaling apparatus, the combination of therotatable cam device a, having at its center a hollow cylinder open atthe upper end; a hollow piston 7c stationary vertically, and disposedwithin the camcylinder, with a regulated opening in the end of same; ahand-actuated wheel b connected with the piston lc; and manual means forraising and lowering the said cam c, vertically up and down over thepiston k, substantially as set forth.

3. In a marine sound-signaling apparatus, the combination of therotatable cam device ct, having at its center a hollow cylinder open atthe upper end; a hollow piston k, stationary vertically, and disposedwit-hin the camcylinder,with a regulated opening in the end of same; ahand-actuated wheel b connected with the piston 7c; an actuated rope f,connected at one end above the cam, and adapted to be operated at theother manually; and a supporting-carrier t' having pulleys 72., overwhich said rope f passes, and carrying said cam; substantially as setforth.

4t. -In a marine sound-signaling apparatus, the combination of arotatable and verticallymovable cam device at, the vertically-stationarypiston 7; the hand actuating-wheel b dis-v posed above the cam, andconnected with and adapted to operate said cam, and containingsignal-code symbols on the upper surface thereof; and a supplementalparallel part below said wheel b, also carrying signal-code symbols, andconnected vwith and revolving with the upper wheel b; substantially asset forth.

5. In a marine sound-signaling apparatus, the combination of a hollowpillar d; a handactuated wheel b on the upper end of same, with aserrated lower edge; a serrated edge o on the column meshing with theedge of the hand-actuated wheel; a rotatable and vertically-movable cama; and piston k connected with the wheel b; substantially as described.

6. In a marine sound-signaling apparatus, the combination of a hollowpillar d; a hand actuating-wheel b; a piston 7c; a central stem q,carrying the piston 7c, and connected with the wheel b; a hollowcylindrical rotatable and vertically-movable cam a; a carrierbracket iwith pulleys h therein; rod m carrying said block t; tube n in whichsaid rod m works; rope f; and pedal e connected to one end of said ropeand vertically guided; substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM B. BARKER.

Witnesses:

S. GooDALL, GEO. E. GODDING.

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